HEC Makes National Skill Competency Test Mandatory for Final-Year CS and IT Students

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced the National Skill Competency Test (NSCT) 2027 for students in computing and IT-related degree programmes across Pakistan, and made it mandatory for those in their final year.

Who has to take it

Participation is compulsory for all 7th and 8th semester students in eligible computing and IT programmes. The requirement covers students at main university campuses, sub-campuses, constituent colleges and affiliated colleges, so students at smaller affiliated institutions are included as well.

Dates and format

HEC has tentatively scheduled the test for January 23 and 24, 2027. It will be a computer-based test held at more than 100 locations across the country. The commission says the test is designed to assess students’ skills and competency before they complete their degrees.

This will be the second edition of the test. HEC held the first NSCT in April 2026 for 7th and 8th semester computing students in 112 cities. The test was free and computer-based, and HEC says it is meant to bring IT students into a national talent pool for jobs in the IT industry.

Why it matters

Employers in Pakistan’s IT industry have long said that many computing graduates are not job-ready. A standardised, nationwide competency test gives universities, students and employers a common benchmark, and gives policymakers data on where training gaps lie.

For students, the practical step is to watch for HEC’s registration notice and prepare on core computing skills. For universities, results are likely to become a visible measure of how well their programmes match industry needs.